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Into the Alps with great momentum: the DTM season continues for BMW Motorsport with two races in Spielberg.

Tue May 17 14:29:58 CEST 2016 Press Release

The eight BMW drivers are setting their sights high ahead of the second DTM weekend of the 2016 season: Spielberg (AT) hosts races three and four on 21st/22nd May – at what is probably one of the most beautiful circuits in motorsport.

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BMW Motorsport

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Munich (DE), 17th May 2016. The eight BMW drivers are setting their
sights high ahead of the second DTM weekend of the 2016 season:
Spielberg (AT) hosts races three and four on 21st/22nd May – at what
is probably one of the most beautiful circuits in motorsport.

Nestled in the Styrian mountains in Austria, the Red Bull Ring is the
highest racetrack on the DTM calendar, at almost 700 metres above sea
level. It is also up near the top of the popularity ratings among the
drivers. A real test for the drivers, and featuring unusually large
changes in elevation and gradients of up to 12 per cent, the
4.326-kilometre track is located about 50 kilometres from Graz and all
but guarantees tense and exciting races.

When the BMW Motorsport drivers go out onto the track at the first of
this season’s four trips abroad, they will be looking to back up the
performance they showed in race two of the season-opener in Hockenheim
(DE), where Augusto Farfus (BR) and Maxime Martin (BE) finished second
and third. Farfus was also the top BMW driver in Spielberg in 2015.

Three BMW DTM drivers reached the podium on Saturday in the third
race of the VLN Endurance Racing Championship at the Nürburgring
Nordschleife (DE): DTM ace Marco Wittmann (DE), Jörg Müller (DE) and
BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn (FI) recorded the first big win for
the new BMW M6 GT3. Martin Tomczyk (DE) in second place and Tom
Blomqvist (GB) in third also finished in the top-3 at the dress
rehearsal for the 24-hour race.

The DTM races in Spielberg get underway at 17:50 on Saturday (live on
ARD from 17:35) and 15:15 on Sunday (live on ARD from 15:00).

Quotes ahead of the second race weekend of 2016 in Spielberg.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“The opening round of the DTM season in Hockenheim was eventful for
us, in many regards. I think the fans certainly saw some fantastic
racing – and that is exactly what we are looking to give spectators in
the DTM. With two podium finishes and a handsome points haul behind
us, we now travel to Spielberg with the aim of backing up our
performances – particularly those shown on the Sunday. We have some
fond memories of this beautiful racetrack in the mountains. We claimed
a one-two-three there in 2013, and then a top-four lock-out the
following year. Furthermore, it is also the home circuit of our
premium partner Red Bull. Therefore, we hope that Styria will prove to
be a happy stomping ground for us again in 2016.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):

“First of all, I am very sorry for Timo Glock and our entire team
that we were not able to retain our podium result from Hockenheim.
Timo and the guys did a great job and more than deserved the
second-place trophy as a reward for their hard work. We are now
looking ahead, and looking forward to going on the attack again in
Spielberg. Both Timo and Marco Wittmann have appeared on the podium at
the Red Bull Ring several times in the past. I hope that is a good
omen for the next two races.”

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK):

“I look back fondly on our debut in Spielberg in 2013. Back then,
Marco Wittmann and Timo Glock claimed our first podium finishes. After
the podium finish for Augusto Farfus and Bruno Spengler’s impressive
race on Saturday in Hockenheim, we travel to Austria full of
confidence. Our goal is to achieve top results again at the Red Bull Ring.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):

“We made a good start to the 2016 DTM season, with third place for
Maxime Martin and a strong display from Tom Blomqvist in Sunday’s race
in Hockenheim. We would obviously like to take this momentum into the
weekend in Spielberg. To make this possible, our mechanics and
engineers are working hard in preparation for the weekend.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“Spielberg is something of a home outing for our team. After all, the
journey from Freilassing is shorter than to any other DTM race. The
circuit is set in beautiful scenery and has a fascinating layout,
which also produces the highest average speeds on the entire DTM
calendar. We had an exciting start to the season in Hockenheim, which
only goes to show just how close the DTM is going to be in 2016. We
are now looking forward to the next episode at the Red Bull Ring.”

Marco Wittmann (car number 11, BMW Team RMG):

“Generally speaking, Spielberg really suits me. I claimed my first
podium there, and actually won in 2014. It is, so to speak, the home
race for my new partner Red Bull. I am looking forward to seeing a lot
of fans at the track, who will be supporting us and cheering us on. It
is certainly going to be a special weekend.”

Timo Glock (car number 16, BMW Team RMG):

“The Red Bull Ring is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful
racetracks in the world, and one I have a lot of fond memories of. I
claimed my first DTM podium there in 2013 and also enjoyed a lot of
good races during my Formula 3 days. Apart from last year, things have
always gone really well for me in Spielberg.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team MTEK):

“The circuit in Spielberg is one of a kind. As a racing driver, it
has everything I love about a racetrack: fast corners, slow corners,
climbs, drops, and a long straight with overtaking opportunities. On
top of that, you have the passionate motorsport fans in Austria. I am
very much looking forward to the weekend.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 18, BMW Team MTEK):

“Spielberg is one of the most attractive racetracks in Europe.
Driving there is always hugely enjoyable. After the good results in
Hockenheim, I am really looking forward to Spielberg. We will
obviously do our best to finish as high up the field as possible.”

Tom Blomqvist (car number 31, BMW Team RBM):

“I really enjoy driving in Spielberg. I scored some good results
there during my time in single-seater racing. Therefore, I am already
very much looking forward to returning to Austria. Last year was
obviously not particularly easy for us, due to the weather. The
surroundings are beautiful, though, and it is great fun to drive at
this circuit.”

Maxime Martin (car number 36, BMW Team RBM):

“I am really looking forward to Spielberg, even though we had some
issues there last year. Now is a new season, however, and everything
can change. I think we have a good chance of scoring some valuable
points for BMW. The track itself is very undulating and has a very
long straight. However, the most fascinating thing is the scenery.
There are few places so beautiful.”

António Félix da Costa (car number 13, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“The Red Bull Ring poses many challenges: fast corners and nice
stretches between the individual turns. It is not that easy to set a
fast lap time there. Despite this, the circuit is fantastic and in
outstanding condition. It has everything to ensure we are in for some
great DTM races.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 100, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“Spielberg is one of my personal highlights of the motorsport season.
On the one hand, this is because it is a beautiful racetrack. Even as
a racing driver, you cannot resist the odd sideways glance at the
scenery. Furthermore, the circuit is in top condition and has a great
layout. It stands out from some other circuits in that regard. You
also have a lot of overtaking opportunities on the straights, which
obviously helps to make it really exciting.”

--

Statistics: Spielberg.

Length:

4.326 km

2015 winners:

Edoardo Mortara, Audi (race 1)

Mattias Ekström, Audi (race 2)

2015 poles:

1:24.714 minutes (Edoardo Mortara, Audi, race 1)

1:42.010 minutes (Mattias Ekström, Audi, race 2)

Best-placed BMW 2015:

Augusto Farfus, 6th place (race 1)

António Félix da Costa, 10th place (race 2)

DTM debut:

2011

BMW wins:

2

BMW pole positions:

1

BMW fastest laps:

1

BMW podiums:

7

Statistics: BMW DTM drivers.

Driver

WIT

GLO

SPE

FAR

BLO

MAR

DAC

TOM

Nationality

DE

DE

CA

BR

GB

BE

PT

DE

Number

11

16

7

18

31

36

13

100

Age

26

34

32

32

22

30

24

34

DTM debut

2013

2013

2005

2012

2015

2014

2014

2001

Team

RMG

RMG

MTEK

MTEK

RBM

RBM

Schnitzer

Schnitzer

Races

40

40

123

50

20

30

30

161

Wins

5

2

14

4

1

2

1

7

Podiums

9

5

44

12

1

4

3

28

Poles

5

1

17

5

-

2

1

8

Fastest laps

5

2

14

1

1

1

1

8

Points

319

147

715

316

65

157

91

477

BMW Motorsport media schedule.

Saturday, 21st May

19:20-19:30

Interviews with the BMW DTM drivers (Mixed
Zone)

Media Centre

Sunday, 22nd May

09:00-09:15

Live
Facebook interview with the best-placed BMW driver of the
opening race

The German Touring Car Masters – DTM for short – is the most popular
touring car series in the world. The series pits the three premium
automobile manufacturers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz against each
other in a sporting contest. BMW fielded its first works teams from
1984 to 1992, during which time it claimed 49 race victories and won
the Drivers’ Championship on three occasions (1984, 1987 and 1989).
The manufacturer returned to the DTM in 2012, since when it has won
seven of a possible twelve titles. 18 races, spread over nine
weekends, are scheduled for 2016. ARD broadcasts all the races live.
Tickets for all the DTM races are available here: https://tickets.bmw-motorsport.com/index.html

CO2 emission information.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified. Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the “Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from dealerships and here as PDF.

Further News for: DTM · BMW Motorsport

Related Video Content.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified. Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the “Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from dealerships and here as PDF.